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October 25, 2014

Humanities Panel, Harvard 2013

The number of American bachelor’s degrees in disciplines such as language, history, and the classics has been declining for decades — from 14 percent in 1966 to 7 percent in 2010. At Harvard College, 17 percent of students are humanities concentrators today, down from 21 percent about a decade ago.

Interest in humanities degrees is declining according to other measures, too. For instance, the number of incoming freshmen at Harvard who say they will concentrate in the humanities drops 57 percent by the end of their third semester.

Against this backdrop, a panel of experts met last year in front of a capacity crowd at Radcliffe Gymnasium. “The Humanities and the Future of the University,” convened by the Mahindra Humanities Center and funded by the Office of the President, explored ways of reviving interest in the reflexive and analytical disciplines that make up humanistic study.

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"I have known Kaitlin Hanger for 20 years and have worked with her on some of the most exciting projects of my creative career. Kaitlin Hanger is an excellent communicator, and I have enjoyed an intellectual connection with her that is very rare in this business. She is a great collaborator and an entrepreneurial visionary with persuasive diplomatic skills. Kaitlin is a very good listener, visually fluent, flexible, patient, observant, thorough and is not afraid to take risks. She has a sixth sense when it comes to character judgments, script analysis and finding deeper metaphors hidden in others' work. Her aesthetics are exquisite. She is a true artist in the sense that she stretches her voice and transcends the media completely, from written word to painting, from moving image to design.”

"Truly, Kaitlin is one of the most creative, technically savvy, intelligent, skilled, and tremendously fun people I've ever met. I have learned most of what I know about communications from her, and I have benefited from her mentoring and collegiality for many years. For business communications, Kaitlin takes a very serious, focused approach to her work -- clearly defining objectives -- and then sets aside the "business" side of things to allow her artistic side to flow and create. Once she's come up with several amazing ideas, she puts the business hat back on to identify those that best fit the objectives. She does this fairly complicated process seamlessly and naturally--better than anyone I've ever worked with."

~Tina Creguer (University of Michigan Health System)

Kaitlin is the consummate pro. Easy to work with and very creative. When given a task, Kaitlin offers a variety of solutions and engages everyone on the team to implement the final decision. An excellent communicator and leader, Kaitlin sets the pace and provides an example to which to aspire. She cultivates talent and is a go-to person when others have no answer. She is a resource that consistently performs above expectations. In an exceedingly expectant world, she is an "A" player.."

"Kaitlin is great person to have as part of your creative team because she brings a rare combination of insight, creative ability and technical production know-how. Kaitlin can make a big impact using both words and imagery and she's always up-to-date with fresh approaches that work. In two words: Hire Kaitlin!"

"I have known Dr. Hanger in both a professional and personal capacity for many years, having collaborated with her on several...projects throughout the years. Her intelligence and insight in creative pursuits never cease to inspire me. She is a contributing author to an anthology of which I am co-editor. She frequently provides feedback to me in my research interests, providing a clarity of thought that always helps me see the direction I need to take. Her focus as a thinker is un-muddied by temptation to take the shortest route to success, demanding excellence in every endeavor. She always finds the time to encourage new ways of seeing and thinking."

"You had a HUGE impact on my life. I ended up going to grad school and getting a masters in Television, Radio, and Film, and now I work for Nielsen Media Research in New York City (though soon I may be moving onward and upward to MTV Networks!). Some of my fondest memories of school are from your classes..."

"I thought of you recently! I am in the process of writing my autobiography and thus the skills and theories you taught me have surfaced often. I don't think you realize how very much you inspired me and my writing abilities...I felt like I walked away with more than I can describe."

~Jessica Grupposo, Account Executive (Philips Corp.)

Creator's Statement

How we communicate refines our nature as life participants wherever we share and express our physical, social, spiritual, and emotional needs and coordinate social and cultural activity. It is the job of the content provider to adapt, respond, reflect, and accept responsibility regarding the infinite connections between symbol (whether word or image) and human reality and to understand and influence the patterns of thought that help people successfully negotiate their worlds.

To do this, I believe organizations must:

• Learn how to think and to see anew, create meaningful solutions, and work adaptively in creative communities.

• Learn the value of self-knowledge and intuition—quantum leaps in understanding CAN be made.

• Appreciate the many sub-cultures that ingest and produce the diverse messages you communicate.

• Be flexible, be innovative. We can't prepare for a future that will move faster and more strangely as technology progresses without our own center of equilibrium.

In absorbing a message, a dynamic cognitive process should take place for the both the speaker and audience.

Marketing is about building a relationship. It is a space wherein answers reveal themselves. You can't be in a hurry. Good messages take time to develop.

What I Believe

If you want to create an intervention in society, you have to leave your ego at the door. Not your voice, not your truth, not your self-worth nor your right to intervene. Just your ego.